Mailbag: Should the Heat pursue a trade for Paul George?

Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers reacts to a late foul call while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena on April 17, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won the game 117-111 to take a 2-0 series lead. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

It looks like the Pacers are now open to trading Paul George.

Does it make sense for the Heat to pursue the 27-year-old forward? In this week’s installment of the Heat mailbag, we took a closer look at George’s situation and why it would be risky to trade for him.

@anilsbtb: Should the Heat trade for Paul George this offseason? Is it worth it?

Anthony Chiang:The Pacers are reportedly looking to trade Paul George after he informed them that he plans to become a free agent in the summer of 2018 and leave the organization. So the Heat should swoop in and make an offer, right? Not so fast. This would be a risky move for Miami, considering that George could end up being a one-year rental. George has two years left on his contract and is set to make $19.5 million this upcoming season, but he can opt out and become a free agent next summer. With a max contract likely waiting for him in free agency, most believe George will choose to become a free agent in 2018. And most believe he will sign with the Lakers, as Los Angeles is close to his hometown of Palmdale, Calif. So how much would you give up for George knowing that he could leave you after one season? Let’s discuss. Indiana is looking for “a substantial package of talent and draft picks for George,” according to The Vertical. Miami could pick for Indiana at No. 14 and send Tyler Johnson, Justise Winslow and Josh McRoberts to the Pacers for George. But that’s a lot to give up for a player who could be elsewhere in just one year. And would the Pacers even accept that? Miami doesn’t have many draft picks to offer Indiana, as the Heat don’t own both of their picks in a draft until 2022. But at the same time, the Pacers shouldn’t expect huge trade offers from teams given that George is expected to sign with the Lakers next summer. While the Pacers are scared of losing George for nothing in free agency next offseason, the Heat should probably be scared of trading away big pieces for a player who could leave the organization after one season … unless the Heat feel like they can convince George to make Miami his long-term home. That would change things.

@HeatMilGrau: Donovan Mitchell should be the best-case scenario for the Heat in the draft?

Anthony Chiang: Not in my eyes. To me, the best-cast scenario for the Heat is coming away with one of the top stretch forwards in the draft. If either Arizona power forward Lauri Markkanen or Gonzaga power forward/center Zach Collins falls to the Heat at No. 14, that’s the best-case scenario, in my opinion.